Islands Growth deal signed for Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides will release total investment of £393 million

Today marks a significant milestone with the signing of the Islands Growth Deal, an agreement which represents a £100 million investment deal to support the future economic prosperity of the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Up to 1300 new jobs are anticipated as a result.

Hannah Ritchie-Muir, Principal of UHI Outer Hebrides, applauded the achievements of this significant milestone for the Islands Growth Deal, saying: "UHI Outer Hebrides has been a strong partner in the development of the vision and the project ideas that have emerged to form this deal. We are committed to the delivery phase and to seeing these projects come to fruition for the benefit for our young people and our communities. Through the wider UHI partnership and our planned merger with UHI North Highland and UHI West Highland, we can offer unrivalled opportunities and excellence in learning, training and support for all students, businesses and rural communities."

Welcoming the Islands Growth deal, Lydia Rohmer, Principal Designate of UHI North, West and Hebrides, added: “This deal represents important strategic funding for the Outer Hebrides and supports our ambitions as a merged college to have a transformational impact on our rural and island communities, through our commitment to tertiary education, addressing the skills shortage, growing research and innovation, and proactively focussing on culture, tradition, and the Gaelic language. Our merged college will play a pivotal role in joining up key strategic economic developments in our merged college region, unlocking future-facing job opportunities, and supporting a new industrial revolution in our region. We look forward to working with all our Islands Deal partners to maximise all opportunities for our island communities.”

UHI Outer Hebrides, UHI North Highland and UHI West Highland will merge to form UHI North, West and Hebrides in August 2023, pending Scottish Government approval.

For more information, visit: Media - News - Islands Growth deal signed for Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides will release total investment of £393 million (uhi.ac.uk)